Gica: Dumanjug gov’t can still run without me

Dismissed Dumanjug Mayor Efren “Gungun” Gica assured his constituents that government operations will still run well even with his absence.

Early this month, the Office of the Ombudsman issued a decision finding Gica guilty of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct and dismissed him from service with forfeiture of all benefits, perpetual disqualification to hold public office and cancellation of all civil service eligibilities.

“Wala pa (ko nakareceive og dismissal). I don't know if ma-servan ba ko while suspended ko,” he said.

Gica is still under suspension for guilty of simple misconduct and oppression for leading the police in raiding a house without a search warrant in 2015.

“I'm not that stupid nga mangawat tag P10,000. I spent so much for the position,” Gica said.

Since the middle of this year, Rainero Asentista stood as Dumanjug's acting mayor.

Gica said he fully supports Asentista.

He added that municipal projects will not be delayed since all the incumbent and elected municipal officials are from his side.

“I already had a meeting with all of my supporters few days ago. I already told them nga I would be needing their prayers and support. (I told my supporters) Ayaw lang mo kabalaka since naa man moy caretaker ron,” he said.

When asked about the Ombudsman decision, Gica suspects that “there's really something going on there” stating that some parts of their counteraffidavit was not tackled on the decision.

He added that in the event that he will no longer be in politics, he will make sure that no Garcia will hold a position in Dumanjug.

After learning about this, former Dumanjug mayor Nelson Garcia said that Gica should instead focus on the case itself, rather than attacking people like the Garcia family who is not involved in the case.

“He is entitled to his own entertainment,” said Garcia.

Earlier, lawyer Edgar Gica, Gungun's father and counsel, shared to the media that Garcia and Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente were classmates.

“Ako, nasuspenso man sad ko, na-dismiss man sad ko,” said Garcia, emphasizing that the connection of him and Clemente does not mean the Ombudsman favors him.

The elder Gica, Garcia said, can be “disbarred” if he were to make such connection publicly.

“Accusing a constitutional body nga wa siya'y proof and evidence, that's tantamount to libel,” he continued.

PAUL JUN E. ROSAROSO Despite the risks that come with the use of canisters filled with butane, there are still people who patronize this type of fuel because it is cheap compared to the liquefied petroleum gas sold by major oil players.

GICA